Gina Formica and Jennifer Conway are on a mission to motivate residents at all of Liberty’s senior communities. Formica, Director of the Becoming Center, and Conway, resident and wellness coordinator at the Becoming Center, came up with the “Amazing Race.” Much like the television show, residents “travel” to a different destination each week. The “Amazing Race” is a walking challenge designed to encourage residents to get moving every day. Over the course of four weeks, residents will travel to four different global locations. Residents will “travel” to Italy, the Orient, Mexico and conclude their race with a virtual trip to New York City! Each participating resident is equipped with a passport that is stamped each Friday, if they complete their walking for the week. Residents also enjoy a meal on that Friday inspired by the destination to which they traveled.

Reaching the 50th year milestone is often a big event for many people; often it brings with it a mixed bag of emotions from sadness to depression and anxiety of aging. As I approached 50, I thought about what that meant to me. As the Director of the Becoming Center, it occurred to me that this was a great chance to make a statement about my philosophy of wellness, how it has impacted my life, and how it can make a difference in the lives of those that I serve. Also, I wanted Becoming Center members and people in the community to know that it doesn’t matter what age you are, or what your physical limitations, you can still be fit and push the envelope, so to speak, on what we expect of our bodies.

For seniors, spending time with grandchildren is a chance to enjoy fun family activities and conversations, see the world through a child’s eyes and pass along family traditions and stories.

Many parents look forward to the day their adult children will have children of their own. That’s because becoming a grandparent is a way to touch the future and an opportunity to bring all the generations in a family closer together.

Studies by organizations like the Society for Research in Child Development show grandparents have the potential to play key roles in the lives of their grandchildren and that intergenerational relationships offer multiple benefits to both young and old.

An upcoming art exhibit in South Philadelphia aims to raise awareness of the lives of refugees in our community and their immigrant neighbors.

–By Joe Harrington, Liberty Lutheran Intern

Adjusting to life in a new nation can be challenging for immigrants and refugees. That’s why the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative (PRMHC,) led by Liberty’s Lutheran Children and Family Service, uses therapy, support groups and arts projects to help families process past exposure to violence and current resettlement stresses. It is a lifeline for refugees who are starting over, after surviving unimaginable trauma in their home countries. An upcoming art exhibit in South Philadelphia aims to raise awareness of the lives of refugees in our community and their immigrant neighbors.

Residents of the Liberty Lutheran senior communities of Paul’s Run Retirement Community and Artman, joined by residents of Masonic Home, Cathedral Village and Wesley Enhanced Living at Burholme are preparing for the 32nd annual Senior Games! The games, which are hosted by Paul’s Run this year, will take place on Wednesday, October 2nd at the LuLu Temple in Plymouth Meeting.

The speed of life is accelerating. I am guilty of this myself. Now that we can have our computers, our music, our emails, our phones, our contacts, our banks, our apps, and even our beloved Google in our hands we charge through life (looking down) at ever more breakneck speeds. Given the realities that technology imposes by the constant availability of this access life is challenging. It is truly challenging to live and to notice the simple moments of life.

More than 50 youth from the URM program joined LCFS staff and foster family members and mentors for a summer picnic.

-By Peter Gottemolller, LSW, Program Director

The young people in Lutheran Children and Family Service’s(LCFS) Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) program have traveled through some very difficult times in their young lives. Victims of traumatic events such as war, extreme poverty, violence and oppression, they are survivors. With journeys as varied as their individual situations, they traveled this time to Mermaid Lake Swim Club in Blue Bell for a picnic sponsored and coordinated by the URM program and its staff. More than 50 youth from the program joined a dozen LCFS staff and more than 20 foster family members and mentors at the swim club, where they enjoyed swimming, basketball, soccer and other activities on a beautiful late summer afternoon.